If only there had been some way for one of the greatest college football games in history to mean something beyond thrills for two schools’ fan bases and momentary entertainment for those among the rest of us able to stretch our hangovers deep enough into New Year’s Night to tune in.

Boise State’s incredible 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma featured three touchdowns in the final 86 seconds of regulation, a hook-and-ladder play for the tying score by Boise State on fourth-and-18 with 18 seconds to go, a direct-snap wide receiver pass for a touchdown in overtime by the Broncos — also on fourth down, because, you know, when else? — and the winning two-point conversion coming on a Statue of Liberty play.

Boise State did everything but line up Harpo in the backfield. For those of you wondering what a hook-and-ladder or Statue of Liberty play might be, please consult your “Collegiate Foot Ball Fanatic’s Handbook,” 1926 edition, which has some nice illustrations.

If only there had been some way for one of the greatest college football games in history to mean something beyond thrills for two schools’ fan bases and momentary entertainment for those among the rest of us able to stretch our hangovers deep enough into New Year’s Night to tune in.

Boise State’s incredible 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma featured three touchdowns in the final 86 seconds of regulation, a hook-and-ladder play for the tying score by Boise State on fourth-and-18 with 18 seconds to go, a direct-snap wide receiver pass for a touchdown in overtime by the Broncos — also on fourth down, because, you know, when else? — and the winning two-point conversion coming on a Statue of Liberty play.

Boise State did everything but line up Harpo in the backfield. For those of you wondering what a hook-and-ladder or Statue of Liberty play might be, please consult your “Collegiate Foot Ball Fanatic’s Handbook,” 1926 edition, which has some nice illustrations.

Morning Briefing:CNN’s Obama troubles, continued: The blogosphere on Tuesday is on fire over CNN’s latest Barack Obama-related goof — when teasing a story on the search for Osama bin Laden on Monday, the network flashed a graphic with an unfortunate typo, naming the junior senator from Illinois instead of the world’s leading terrorist. The timing couldn’t have been much worse, as CNN is still smarting from a related gaffe. In early December, anchor Jeff Greenfield did a piece critical of Obama’s fashion sense, arguing his sport jacket/no tie look is reminiscent of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s favored sartorial mode: “And maybe that’s not the comparison a possible presidential contender really wants to evoke … It’s one thing to have a last name that sounds like Osama and a middle name, Hussein, that is probably less than helpful. But an outfit that reminds people of a charter member of the axis of evil, why, this could leave his presidential hopes hanging by a thread. Or is that threads?” (Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo)

Britney falls again: Britney Spears’ performance at Pure nightclub in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve was guaranteed to grab headlines — she reportedly had to be helped out of the club by her bodyguards after collapsing around 1 in the morning, cutting short her duties as host of the club’s New Year’s bash. It was the second time in the past few weeks she had a fall while partying; she reportedly had to be carried out of a Hollywood club on Dec. 22 after passing out. Her manager insists the pop tartlet “wasn’t drinking that much” during the New Year’s bash, though, and sources at the Vegas club deny that she actually fainted. On Monday, her spokesperson told reporters, “She had been traveling all day. She got real tired. It was a late night for her.” (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Morning Briefing:CNN’s Obama troubles, continued: The blogosphere on Tuesday is on fire over CNN’s latest Barack Obama-related goof — when teasing a story on the search for Osama bin Laden on Monday, the network flashed a graphic with an unfortunate typo, naming the junior senator from Illinois instead of the world’s leading terrorist. The timing couldn’t have been much worse, as CNN is still smarting from a related gaffe. In early December, anchor Jeff Greenfield did a piece critical of Obama’s fashion sense, arguing his sport jacket/no tie look is reminiscent of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s favored sartorial mode: “And maybe that’s not the comparison a possible presidential contender really wants to evoke … It’s one thing to have a last name that sounds like Osama and a middle name, Hussein, that is probably less than helpful. But an outfit that reminds people of a charter member of the axis of evil, why, this could leave his presidential hopes hanging by a thread. Or is that threads?” (Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo)

Britney falls again: Britney Spears’ performance at Pure nightclub in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve was guaranteed to grab headlines — she reportedly had to be helped out of the club by her bodyguards after collapsing around 1 in the morning, cutting short her duties as host of the club’s New Year’s bash. It was the second time in the past few weeks she had a fall while partying; she reportedly had to be carried out of a Hollywood club on Dec. 22 after passing out. Her manager insists the pop tartlet “wasn’t drinking that much” during the New Year’s bash, though, and sources at the Vegas club deny that she actually fainted. On Monday, her spokesperson told reporters, “She had been traveling all day. She got real tired. It was a late night for her.” (Las Vegas Review Journal)